Well, it wouldn't really be a reunion without at least one post from yours truly now would it?

No really, I just realized that as I keep logging in to check my PMs that I could end up saying "good bye" forever. So this is it, and I hope you guys won't mind that I'm taking the opportunity of this reunion for one final farewell message.

First I would like to congratulate Kerryn, between you and Casper the voters really couldn't go wrong, but you definitely deserved to win and it couldn't have happened to a nicer gal!

Oh, I'm glad you guys went on with the game by the way, it just wouldn't have been right to end it on that sour note.

Also, I would like to thank the housemates and other community members here who sent me their thoughts and wishes. Even though I wasn't able to respond to you all individually it really does mean a lot to me.

Now, I don't mean to "hog the mic" here but I do need to say one last thing before I ride off into the sunset once and for all. This is for everybody who may have read the first "good bye" thread that I posted here on Saturday or who may have heard what that thread said through the eternal gossip/drama mill that unfortunately seems to define this place all too often. It was something that I posted in the fury of the moment, without giving a first, much less a second thought to what I was doing. I just want to let everybody know that Laurie and I are working things out, and trying to move on with our lives and leave the past behind us... which is why neither her nor I will be coming back to this place. I want you to know that Laurie is still, and always will be the most wonderful person I've ever met, the light of my life, so beautiful and sweet that the very thought of her can bring both a smile to my lips and a tear to my eye. Still, she is nothing if not human, and like all of us she can make mistakes. Now this one mistake may have been a big one, but it was an even bigger wake up call to the mistakes that both of us have been making... taking each other and our family for granted, not enjoying to the fullest each precious moment that we are lucky enough to be able to spend together. In a weird way, it may have been the best thing that could have happened for us, even as painful as it is. I guess what I'm trying to say is don't judge Laurie too harshly, she truly is a wonderful person, and I really regret dragging her name through the mud and embarrassing her the way I did, although it did at least provide her with a clean break from this place, some which I am apparently still searching for.

Just a few more words...

Casper - you are truly a great friend, I can't tell you how lucky I feel to have met you. I hope you have a wonderful trip... as soon as you settle down let me know, I have some things that I really want to send you.

Meg - you are the sweetest of the sweet, you really are. You have one of the biggest hearts of anyone I've ever met and I really hope that we can stay friends for a long time.

Kerryn - since you're the winner I think you have quite enough people feeding you ego today thankyouverymuch No really, you are a true friend and I really hope you'll stay in touch.

To anyone else who is reading this -- if you were a friend to me while I was here you know it, and you should also know that I will miss you. I won't even try to mention everyone by name, because inevitably I would of course forget someone.

If anyone would like to get in touch with me, you can send me an e-mail at thomas_dell@hotmail.com. Thanks for all the good times and memories everybody!

I've said what I wanted to say in my PM, but I hope you and Laurie will come out stronger after this. Everyone can make mistakes; it's just that those mistakes are sometimes beyond your control and they can grow like a hidden cancer before you know it.

Now sail into the sunset, brother! It's a cold wind, but it'll take you to your destination eventually.